China-North Korea Bridge Nears Opening, But Dandong Remains Struggling

DANDONG, China — October 8, 2026: 

A major bridge linking China’s northeastern border city of Dandong with North Korea is nearing completion, but residents and business owners remain uncertain about whether its opening will revive the city’s struggling economy.

The New Yalu River Bridge was completed on the Chinese side in 2014 as part of efforts to strengthen trade with North Korea. However, the project remained unused for more than a decade after North Korea failed to complete its connecting roads and customs facilities.

Work on the North Korean side has now resumed following an improvement in relations between Beijing and Pyongyang. China and North Korea have also restored train services and direct flights, although neither country has announced a specific date for opening the bridge.

The bridge spans the Yalu River between Dandong and the North Korean city of Sinuiju. Residents in Dandong have been closely watching developments, with some businesses opening nearby in anticipation of increased economic activity.

However, many residents are not convinced that the bridge will bring significant benefits, particularly because ordinary Chinese citizens remain unable to freely travel to North Korea.

Dandong once served as a major gateway for trade with North Korea, but its economy has weakened significantly following international sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programmes.

China’s exports to North Korea reached about $2.3 billion last year, their highest level in six years, but the figure remains below pre-2017 levels when United Nations sanctions were introduced.

Despite the recovery in bilateral trade, Dandong's economy grew by only 0.3% in the first half of this year, compared with China's national growth rate of 4.7%. Investment in the city also fell by about one-third, while new home sales declined by 28%.

The Dandong New Zone, developed partly in anticipation of stronger trade with North Korea, continues to have many vacant apartments and businesses. Local workers say low wages have also made it difficult to attract and retain employees.

A nearby trade zone, Guomenwan, has similarly struggled. The complex, launched in 2015 with an investment of about 1 billion yuan ($140 million), now has many empty shops and businesses largely serving the domestic market.

International sanctions have restricted the import of North Korean seafood and agricultural products, as well as the export of steel and industrial machinery to North Korea.

Tourists continue to visit Dandong to look across the Yalu River into North Korea, but the country has not reopened its borders to Chinese tourists since closing them in 2020.

For many residents, the proposed opening of the new bridge therefore represents hope, but not a guarantee of economic recovery.

With North Korea remaining relatively isolated from the outside world, some Dandong residents believe the city may need to diversify its economic ties rather than depend heavily on trade with its northern neighbour.

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share